Shock-absorbing mechanism for vehicle-springs.



W. 1 KIDDER. SHOUK ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE SPRINGS.

APPLIOATION FILED J AN. 11, 1 907'. I

Patented Oct. 6

'useful Improvement in Shock- UnIT D STATES rATENT'oFr-Icn.

wELmNeroN' r. Kmnna, or Bos'roN, MASSACHUSETTS.

I No. 900,388.

To all wiwm itma'y coacem: 'Be it known that I, WELL-moron 1?.K1D-

nan, in Boston, in'the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented Absorbing Mechanism for Vehicle- Springs, of. which the following is'a specification.

My invent on has for its 'bject a shock absorbin mechanism particularly "applicable to veh1cle-springs','in which the depression and rebound of the vehicle-body are progressively checked by an increasing resistance as the spring is expanded and contracted; in which. suchmovements of the vehicle-body are positively-limited at the end of the checking process without shock; in which these results-are roduce'd witha minimumamount of inter erence with the freedom of-'normal spring action; and in which the employment of lighter orsofter springs is possible with absolute protection from danger of breakage, such mechanism being adapted to be applied in connection carriage-body, an a I Fig.3 is a-sim and combination with springs of ordinary COIlStIllOtlOIL,

The nature of .t e invention is fully" described below, and illustrated in the accom:

panying drawings, m which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation show-V lied to the frame of a e and spring, .with the spring in its extremecontracted position t e ing my invention ap an ame supporting the carriage-body at its highest os'slible-pomt. Fig. 2' s a; similar view with t e parts i their normal position; 1 ar view with the springin its extremeexpanded position, and the carriage body 'atits lowest ossible point. Fig. 4 is an end elevation Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail inv side elevation supporting the 100 y illustratingthe drag -1 or friction-mechane ism. Fig. (i isa section-taken on line 6-6,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. 5

a represents a 'ortion of the frame for of a vehicle, and b is an ordinary carriage-spring, the one illustrated being of the semi-elliptical type, connected with the body-frame ism 0 c. i

dis the axle. a I connect the axle, 'which is beneath the a ring at its pomt of greatest movement uring expansion and contraction, with the y ordinary mechan- Specification of Letters. Patent; :Applieation fled. January 11, 1907. Serial No. 351,852.

a citizen of the United States, residing a new and.

axle, and the upper to provide account of material project sidesof the frame a into the "path of the outer end, wliereby "it ooking toward. the left.-

. that illustrated in tion reached by a rebound .is

stop It,

- snocx ansonnme mcnmisu Ion VEHIOLE-SPItINGS.

Patented Oct. o, 1908.

' body-frame or with anypa rt which is rigid by a jointed lever with-or apart of the body, of the toggle type, the two parts or members e gjbeing pivotally connected 'togetherat f, the lower end of the member'e being pivotally connected to a lug h-supported on the end of the member g bein pivotally connected rigi 1y secured to the frame a. The upper member g ismuch 6, its length the extreme the spring, ber e is such as to reach its pivotal connection with the member g when the latter. is at its highest point. The actual length'of the member 6 is however somewhat greater on its curved shape whereby it is .adapted'to avoid the stud g. This curved shape is not absolutely necessary, but is perhaps the mostconvenient shape for. the purpose. Stops k k of leather or other suitable from the upper and under being approximately one-half of distance of the vertical play of member 9' at two points in. a vertical line located to prevent the toggle from reaching the dead center. i

It will be noticed that the member g is considerably brpadened toward and at its on the comparatively the curved'end of the memthat portion which turns on berg, that is,

shorter than the membersurrounds and turns I large stud g". A horizontal case m is secured to the frame with its. d open end facing and the length of the lower mema softbolt-shaped'plunger 72 against said curved end, thus providing continuous fric-' tion at that point. v The normal-position of the device being that indicated in Fi reached by ock is Fig. 3, in which the toggle has reached the stop k, and the extreme posiillustrated in Fig. 1,-in which the to 'glehas reached the and in the trave of thejoint from its normal position upward toward it and downward toward thelslfip. is, its movement is increasing'l and progressively checked by the frictiona resistance produced by the pressure of the direct action. of a sh g'. 2,the extreme position a v the stop" the plunger against the Y curved'peripheral end of the upper member such friction though sli multiply'the friction of t bearing at g as the ht operating to e. large pivotal the approach of the toggle-jointtoward a load on it increases with position in which its pivotal points arein line. Thus a gradual arrest offspring action in both directions is accomplished as shock or rebound to its normal position;

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by,Letters Patent,'is:.. v 1 1 1. In a shock. absorbing mechanism for vehicle springs, a vehicle body portion, a supporting axle, a spring intermediate of 'the axle and theibody, a toggle joint intermediate of. and uconn'ecting the axle and body and comprising a;compara,tively short member. and a'comparatively long member, the shortsmember being provided witha curved bearing surface at its end farthest from the long memberand-a friction mechanism comprisinga springsactuated plunger bearing against said curvedflsurface on the short member for thepurpose set forth.

2. In acshocl'vabsorbing mechanism for, vehiclesprings, a vehicle body portion, a supporting axle, {a spring intermediate of the axle and the. body, aItoggle-joint intermediate of and connecting the axle and body and comprising a comparatively short member connected with the body and a compara-i,

tively long memberconnected with the axle; P

stops supported by the body and adapted to prevent the toggle from reaching a dead center, and a friction-mechanism bearing against said toggle, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a shock-absorbing mechanism for vehiclesprings, avehicle body portion, a supporting axle, a spring intermediate of the axle and body portion, a comparatively large stud secured to said portion, a toggle consisting of a comparatively short member pivoted on and around said stud and a comparatively long member connected with the axle, and a friction-mechanism comprising a case, a spring, and a soft plunger bearing against the portion of the upper member which is pivoted on and around the stud, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a shock-absorbing mechanism for vehicle springs avehicle body portion, a supporting axle, a spring intermediate of the axle and the bod a toggle joint intermediate of and connecting the axle and body and comprising a comparatively short memberconnected with the body and a comparatively, long member centrally curved and connected with the axle, and a frictionmechanism bearing against said toggle, for

the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

H WELLINGTON P. KIDDER. :lVitnessesr f -w-IlENRY \V. Hum-ms,

' A. K. H001). 

